SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PA – At 4:35 AM on Wednesday, March 22, Schuylkill County 9-1-1 dispatched a first alarm structure assignment to 2056 West Penn Pike in West Penn Township for a house fire. The first alarm included Fire Districts 37 (West Penn) & 55 (New Ringgold), Tamaqua Fire (American & Ladder Co.) with Lehigh County Station 10 (Germanville) & 17 (New Tripoli). Tamaqua EMS was also due.
Chief 37 responded and was advised that County received a call from an alarm company stating a resident was reporting a fire in the residence. Engine 37-11 and Tanker 37-32 were en route shortly after.
Assistant Chief 37-01 arrived on the scene and confirmed a working fire in a single family dwelling; the chief also requested Carbon District 3 (East Penn Twp.) be dispatched to the scene.
A line was stretched off 37-11 where crews found a fire in the front room on the first floor. Engine 55-10 pulled in front of 37-11 and their crew backed up the West Penn firefighters. The responding tankers (37-32 & 55-30) were advised to pull a line to supply 37-11 as their tank water was quickly dwindling.
Rescue 37-53 was sent to a nearby pond to set up a tanker fill site with an engine from District 3. Ladder 770 was directed to the front of the building and prepare for possible ventilation on the roof. Engine 776 staged behind the ladder and sent their crews to the building.
First arriving firefighters made a quick knock on the bulk of the fire present on the first floor. Additional firefighters went to the second floor the check for extension but those searches proved negative.
Lehigh County crews arrived on the scene and assisted with opening up walls and dousing hot spots. Tamaqua (South Ward) was dispatched to the scene for their cascade unit.
The fire was under control within thirty minutes of crews arriving on scene and positive pressure ventilation was initiated to clear smoke. PPL was requested to the scene to disconnect power to the residence while the Red Cross was called to help those displaced by the fire.
Out of town crews began to return to service around 6:30 AM. A State Police Fire Marshal was called to the scene to help investigate the cause of the fire.
